A pillar for a motor vehicle bodywork is disclosed having a main element with an upper coupling section for attaching to a roof frame, and a secondary element composed of metallic alloy. The secondary element is connected in a planar fashion at least over certain sections of the main element, and the main element has a middle layer composed of a hardened steel alloy, and at least one outer layer which bounds the middle layer toward the outside.

A pillar for a motor vehicle bodywork is disclosed having a main element with an upper coupling section for attaching to a roof frame, and a secondary element composed of metallic alloy. The secondary element is connected in a planar fashion at least over certain sections of the main element, and the main element has a middle layer composed of a hardened steel alloy, and at least one outer layer which bounds the middle layer toward the outside.

A pillar for a motor vehicle bodywork is disclosed having a main element with an upper coupling section for attaching to a roof frame, and a secondary element composed of metallic alloy. The secondary element is connected in a planar fashion at least over certain sections of the main element, and the main element has a middle layer composed of a hardened steel alloy, and at least one outer layer which bounds the middle layer toward the outside.

A method of forming and quenching a product via electrically heating includes providing tools that have been electrically heated, providing a die forming shell for supporting a component and for defining a final shape of a formed product formed from the component, and providing a support structure for supporting the die forming shell during the heating of the component or tools. Two portions of the die forming shell are joined together so that an inner surface of the two portions cooperate to form a cavity that defines the shape of the formed product. The component is formed into the formed product, whereby the component is (a) heated before the formed product is formed and/or (b) heated while the formed product is formed. The formed product is quenched via conductive quenching through the die forming shell by at least one of water and a gas.

A method of forming and quenching a product via electrically heating includes providing tools that have been electrically heated, providing a die forming shell for supporting a component and for defining a final shape of a formed product formed from the component, and providing a support structure for supporting the die forming shell during the heating of the component or tools. Two portions of the die forming shell are joined together so that an inner surface of the two portions cooperate to form a cavity that defines the shape of the formed product. The component is formed into the formed product, whereby the component is (a) heated before the formed product is formed and/or (b) heated while the formed product is formed. The formed product is quenched via conductive quenching through the die forming shell by at least one of water and a gas.

In a method for producing in particular structural components or chassis components for a motor vehicle by hot or semi-hot forming, a sheet metal blank is heated in a heating station at least in a first region from a starting temperature to a target temperature, and then the warm blank is transferred to a cooled pressing tool and is formed and press-hardened. The heating station includes at least one burner zone which includes at least one burner, in which zone the sheet metal blank is heated from the starting temperature to the target temperature, and at least one burner is operated with a combustion gas and an oxygen-containing gas and the sheet metal blank comes into direct contact with the burner flame.

In a method for producing in particular structural components or chassis components for a motor vehicle by hot or semi-hot forming, a sheet metal blank is heated in a heating station at least in a first region from a starting temperature to a target temperature, and then the warm blank is transferred to a cooled pressing tool and is formed and press-hardened. The heating station includes at least one burner zone which includes at least one burner, in which zone the sheet metal blank is heated from the starting temperature to the target temperature, and at least one burner is operated with a combustion gas and an oxygen-containing gas and the sheet metal blank comes into direct contact with the burner flame.

A method for manufacturing a monolithic component with integral branching points, including providing a sheet metal comprising a first section and a second section, thinning, via rollforming, the first section of the sheet metal, splitting, via split-rollforming, the second section of the sheet metal in a plane parallel to a surface area of the second section, such that a first flange portion and a second flange portion is formed.

A method for producing a vehicle body or a vehicle body module, the method inclusing producing at least one sandwich component having a first metal sheet layer, a semifinished product layer formed by a non-cured semifinished product pre-impregnated with a matrix, and a second metal sheet layer, forming the vehicle body by joining the sandwich component into a vehicle body part, the matrix of the semifinished product layer of the sandwich component being uncured, and dip coating and drying the vehicle body, the matrix of the semifinished product layer of the sandwich component being cured during the dip coating and drying of the vehicle body.

A method for producing a vehicle body or a vehicle body module, the method inclusing producing at least one sandwich component having a first metal sheet layer, a semifinished product layer formed by a non-cured semifinished product pre-impregnated with a matrix, and a second metal sheet layer, forming the vehicle body by joining the sandwich component into a vehicle body part, the matrix of the semifinished product layer of the sandwich component being uncured, and dip coating and drying the vehicle body, the matrix of the semifinished product layer of the sandwich component being cured during the dip coating and drying of the vehicle body.